And ephraim c



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1;

J. HEASTON -& E. O. SOOY.

EXGAVATING AND DREDGING MACHINE. No. 495,111.

Patented Apr. 11, L893.

m: Nonms Pcrzngcn.v Pnmmuma, wAsumurem o. z:

(No Model.) 5 Shets$heet 2.

J. HEASTON & E. 0. SO'0Y. EXGAVATING AND DRBDGING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 11,1893.

5 SheetsS11eet 3.

(No Model.)

J. HEASTON & E. '0. SOOY. EXGAVATING AND, DREDGING MACHINE.

No. 495,111. Patented Apr. 11, 1898.

(No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 5.

J. HEAST ON 81; E. GrSOOY.

BXGAVATING ANDD-DREDGING MACHINE. v No. 495,111 Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEFIcE.

JOHN HEASTON, OF TOPOLOBAMPO, MEXICO, AND EPHBAIM O. SOOY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

EXCAVATING OR DREDGING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,111, dated April 11, 1893.

Application filed March 12, 1892. Serial No, 424,675- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN HEASTON, residing at Topolobampo, in the State of Sinaloa and Republic of Mexico, and EPHRAIM O. SOQY, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavating or Dredging Machines; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, such as will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The objects of our invention arez-first, to utilize the motive power applied to a traveling excavating machine, which is in excess of that required to operate the excavating buckets in the propulsion of the machine; se ond, to change the angle and direction of movement of an endless chain of excavator buckets, and to increase and decrease the tension of the endless chain within the described angle; third, to change adjustably the direction of the movement of the endless chain of buckets at one point upon the machine, and to enable a compensatory adjustment to be made at other points; fourth, to enable the horizontal position of the frame of the machine to be preserved in moving over irregular surfaces; fifth, to enable the alignment of the traction wheels supporting the vibrating end of the frame of the machine to be maintained in the lateral movement of the machine; sixth, to present the forward edge of the bucket at different angles to the soil; seventh, to enable the buckets to pass over the sheaves without binding.

My invention further consists in the novel construction and combination of parts such as will be hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:-Figure 1. is a side elevation of the machine, showing the outlines of the trench excavated thereby, and in dotted lines, the position of the machine at the beginning of the work. Fig. 2. is a plan View of the machine, showing also the stationary motive power, and the means for communicating a lateral movement to the machine, and simultaneously operating the chain of buckets.

Fig. 3. is a detail View in perspective of the carriage upon which one end of the machine is supported, showing a portion of the frame of the excavator machine, and the ball bearing 5 5 upon its under side, and the socket upon the carriage for the said ball. Fig. 4. is a detail view in perspective of the bicycle carriage, supporting the vibrating end of the machine, showing portions of the angle irons forming 6 the sides to the frame of the excavating machine, pivoted thereto the swivel traction wheels, the plow at one end of the carriage, the lever upon the traction wheel of the bicycle connected with one'eud of the bicycle 05 frame, and the screw for adjusting the position of the lever. Fig. 5. is a detail view of one of the swivel traction wheels, showing the wheel operating rod, and also the lever and its trunnions for adjusting the carriage, in vertical sections. Fig. 6, is a detail view in perspective of the elevator bucket, showing the inclined forward cutting edge, the bars upon both sides of the buckets, and a portion of the endless chain, to which the side bar of the bucket is attached, also showing the slot in the end of the side. Fig. 7. is a vertical sectional view of the bucket, taken upon aline drawn through the securing bolts on the side bars to the bucket. Fig. 8. is a detail view in perspective showing broken portions of the upper angle irons in each of the beams a, a, the transverse rock shaft journaled upon the said beams, and the adjustable chains depressing rods upon the ends of said shaft. Fig. 9. isa detail side of a portion of the lower end of one of the side beams of the main frame, showing the folding guide and adjusting rods, and the guide wheel connected therewith. 1 0

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

In carrying out the details of our invention, We first make a longitudinal frame A, which is extended as far in length as to reach in a 5 downward direction the desired depth below the surface at which the desired excavations are obtained, and in the other or upward direction, a proper distance from the side of the excavation for the dumping of the soil into a vehicle, or in distributing the soil and filling low ground at the side of the excavation.-

The main frame A, of the machine, is composed of two longitudinal trussed beams, a, a, which are placed parallel in position, and at a suitable distance apart to carry the sprocket wheels and chains for the opposing sides of the elevator buckets. Each trussed beam is preferably composed of angle irons a a, which are close in position and bound together at both the ends of each beam by a-flat plate a The beams a, a, are held at fixed distances apart by means of the crossed braces CLO, at-

tached to the upper angle irons a a.

The upper end of the frame A, is mounted upon a movable transverse platform B, in the following manner:To the outer side of one truss beam a, at a suitable distance from the upper end of the said beam, is rigidly attached one end of a fiat supporting plate 0, which plate is extended in a downward direction, and bent in a curved line beneath the frame A, and the other end attached rigidly to the outer side of the other beam 0. A short distance from the curved plate 0, toward the lower or gravitating end of the frame A, and attached rigidly to the outer side of each beam (1, is a similar curved plate 0 the lower portion of which plate is drawn forward in contact with the plate 0. To the under side portion of the plates 0, G, is attached rigidly a plate D. From the plate D, is extended in a downward direction a short distance a circular projection or neck d, upon the lower end of which is rigidly secured a ball D. To the platform B, equidistant from both ends, is secured rigidly a plate E, in which plate is made a socket e, which receives the ball D, on the plate D. The platform B, is supported at one. end by means of the transverse axle b, which is rigidly secured to the under side of said platform, and upon the ends of which axle are the traction wheels B? B The other, or forward end of the platform, is supported by means of the axle b, which is pivotally attached to the under side of said platform at said forward end and at each end of said axle are the traction wheels B B To the axle b, is attached one end of a draft pole B the other end 'of which extends in length a short distance, for the purpose hereinafter described. The lower, or gravitating end of the frame A, is supported by the bicycle frame F, which is composed of two fiat beamsfif, placed in a parallel position, in respect to each other, and transversely to the frame A, of the machine. The forward endsff of the beamsf fare bent in a downward direction,within a short distance of the surface of the ground, and the rear ends f f are extended downwardly in a like direction. Between the parallel plates ff, and to the inner sides of said plate, are securedrigidly attheirlowerends,thepostsf f which extend upwardly a short distance upon the inner side of the beams to a of the frame A. The upper end of one of said postsis pivotally attached to the lower angle plate a, of one beam, and the upper end of the other post is attached in the same manner to the lower angle iron of the other beam at. The frame F, is supported upon the caster wheels F F which are placed at each end of the said frame, and in a single line.

The adjustments of the frame F, upon the wheels F F are accomplished in the following mannerz-Between the plates f, f, and near the bent end portions ff of the frame F, and secured to theinner side of said plates, is a block f which is perforated in a vertical direction atf F is provided with a bifurcated shank f the upper end of which shank consists of a rod f,which extends in an upward direction through the perforation f, in the block f and upon the upper end of said rod is a hand or operating wheel f Upon the rod f between the block f and the shank f is secured rigidly a block f upon the sides of which, vertically in line with the outer sides of the beamsf, f, are cast the trunnions f ,f To the outer sides of the bent portion f, of the plate f, is pivotally attached one end of a lever G, which is perforated at g, to receive the fulcrum or trunnion f", on the block f Parallel with the lever G, and attached to the outer side of the other plate f, is a similar lever G, which is fulcrumed upon the other side of the block f The vibrating ends of the levers G, G, extend nearly to a point in line vertically with the adjunct beam a, of the frame A, and are bound together by means of an intermediate block g, which is pivotally attached to the inner sides of said levers. In the upper side of the block 9, is a socket g Directly above the block g, and secured to the inner sides of the plate ff, is ablock f through which is made, in a vertical direction, a screw threaded perforation f In the perforation f is inserted the lower screw threaded end of an operating rod H, which end enters and turns freely in the socket g of the block g,on thelevers G G. Upon the upper end of the rod H is fixed a hand wheel h. The other caster wheel F is also provided with a bifurcated shank, which is similar to the shank fot the wheel F,to the upper end of which shank is attached the lower end of a rod 1. At the rear end of the frame F, and near the bent portions f f and to the inner side of the platefif, is rigidly bolted a block f which is perforated in a vertical direction, and through which is inserted the upper end of the rod I, which end is screw threaded. Upon the rod. 1, above the block f is fitted a nut t', and upon said rod, beneath said block f, is fitted a similar nut '11, both of which nuts are clamped against the respective sides of the said block. To the upper side of the frame F, between the rods H, and f is attached a horizontal platform K. To the lower ends of the plates f, f, and at the forward end of the frame F, is attached a sleeve or socket Z, to the forward side of which is rigidly attached a plow share ,L. To the outer side portion of the socket Z, at right angles The forward caster wheel to the plow share L, is attached the mold board Z, which extends rearwardly a sufficient distance to throw aside the soil. The upper end portion of the main frame A, of the machine extends to a point a in the direction of the lower end, in a straight line which point is located a short distance past the support on platform B, and from said point the lower end of the said frame is bent in a downward direction in a slight degree, and at an angle to the upper portion of said frame. In the plate a on the lower end of the beam a, is journaled one end of a transverse shaft m, the other end of which shaft is journaled in a similar plate on the lower end of the other beam or on the shaft m. On

the inner side of one beam a, is fixed a sprocket wheel M, and on the same shaft near the inner side of the other beam is fixed a similar sprocket wheel M. At the upper end of the frame A, and in similar side plates to the plates a is journaled a transverse shaft, 'n, upon which shaft are fixed the sprocket wheels N, N, which are in line with the respective sprocket wheels M, M, on the shaft m, at the other end of the frame A. To the under side portion of the lower angle iron a,

in beam at, at a point a short distance from the upper end of the plate 0, toward the lower end of the frame A, is rigidly attached a shaft hanger O which extends a short distance I in a downward direction, and to its lower end, and inner side portion is pivotally attached in a vertical position, a guide sprocket wheel 0. Upon the other side of the frame A, and to the under side portion of the angle iron a of the beam upon said side, is

attached a similar shaft hanger to the lower .end of which is pivotally attached a guide wheel, which is similar to the wheel 0. Transversely in position to and upon the beams a, a, of the frame A, and upon the upper side of the angle a ,is journaledin the boxes 19,10, a rock shaft P. Upon the other side of said angle a and the same distance therefrom toward the lower end of frame A, is jourrnaled in the same manner a like rock shaft P. Equidistant from said shaft P, and the extreme end of said frame, is journaled a similar rock shaft P and between said shaft P and the extreme end of the frame, a rock shaft P The ends of each rock shaft are made flat, and extend a short distance outwardly from the outside portion of the respective bearings upon which it is journaled, and said flat portion is perforated in a vertical direction for the purpose hereinafter described.

Over the sprocket wheel M, at the lower end of the frame A,is passed one end of asprocket chain R, which end is extended above the frame A, in the direction of the sprocket wheel N, at the upper end of said frame, and over said wheel thence beneath said frame A, to

and over the guide sprocket wheel 0, on the shaft hanger O, and thence downwardly a suitable distance to afford an increased length of chain, thence beneath the sprocket wheel M, and the two ends of the chain connected together in the usual manner; Over the sprocket wheels M, N, and the guide wheels upon the corresponding side of the machine, is extended an endless sprocket chain R, which is similarto the chain R, and is made to describe the same length. To the sprocket chains R, R, are attached the excavator buckets, S. The bottom, 5, of the bucket is made from a fiat plate, rectangular in form, one end portion of which plate is bent in an upward direction to form the back 8', of the bucket. One side 8 of the bucket, is attached to the back 8, at one end, and its lower edge is secured to the outer longitudinal edge of the bottom 8. The other side 8 of the bucket, is attached to the back 8 and the bottom of the bucket, in precisely thesame manner. The other end of the plate 8, from that having the back 3, is made with the edge portion, 5

which isinclined forward at angle to the back s, the side 5 being extended a corresponding distance, thus forming a plow point 8 The inclined edge of the bottoms of the bucket, is

inclined upwardly and rearwardly so as to is constructed with the bent ends, in a similar In the manner to the ends 3", of the bar 5 bent end portion 3 of the bar 8 which is toward the forward cutting edge of the bucket, is made a slot 3 In the bent end of the bar 3 directly opposite is made a slot 3 which is similar to theslot on the bar 8 The bucket S, is arranged in a horizontal position, between the sprocket chains, R, R, and the upper bent end, 3 of bar 8 near the back of the bucket, is pivoted to one of the link bolts 1", of the chain R. The bent end 8 of the bar 8 which is also near the back of the bucket, is pivotally attached to the chain R, in the same manner. The forward ends of the bars 8, 8 are connected with a transverse rod T,'which extends through the slot 8 in the bar 8 and also through the slots, in the bars One end of the rod T, is screw-threaded at t. The other end of rod T, extends through the pivot openings of two connecting links, on the endless chain R, and the other end is extended through the pivot openings of similar, connected links on the chain R, and upon the said screw-threaded end is fitted a nut t. A series of buckets is attached to the sprocket chains R, R,in a corresponding manner, and arranged at suitabledistances apart. Through the perforation in one end of the rock shaft P near the lower end of the frame A, is inserted a screw-threaded rod, U, the lower end of which extends downwardly a suitable distance, and is bifurcated, and to said end is pivoted a sprocket guide wheel a, which engages with the sprocket chain R. To the lower end of the rod U, is pivoted one end of a bar u, the upper end of which bar is extended at an angle to the rod U, toward the supporting carriage F, and said upper end is hinged to the under side of the beam a. Upon the rod U, above the perforated end of the rock shaft P is fitted an adjusting nut of. Beneath the rock shaft and on said rod is fitted a nut a which is similar to the nut a Upon the other side of frame A, and the other end of rock shaft P is arranged in like manner a similar adjusting rod U, which carries a like folding hinged bar and toothed wheel, the latter engaging with the sprocket chain R; Through the perforated end of the rock shaft, P on one side of frame A, is inserted one end of an adjusting rod V, which is of con siderable length, which end is bifurcated, and to same end is pivoted a toothed guide wheel 1;, which engages with the sprocket chain R. Through the perforated end of the rock shaft P upon the same side of the frame A, is inserted a screw-threaded rod, W, the lower end of which rod is pivotally attached to the lower end of the adjusting rod V. Upon the rod V, above the shaft P, is fitted a nut v, and beneath the shaft P is fitted to said rod a similar nut '0 Upon the other rod W, is fitted above and below the rock shaft the adjusting nuts to, w, in the same manner as upon rod V. Upon the other side of frame A, are the adjusting rods, V, W, which are constructed in precisely the same manner as the rods V, W, and carry a toothed guide wheel which engages with the sprocket chain R. To the side of the supporting plate, 0 which supports the frame A, on the platform B, and upon one side of the said frame is pivotally attached at one end a depressing bar or lever X, the other end of which bar extends in an upward direction a suitable distance above the frame A. Upon the other side of frame A, and pivotally attached to the supporting plate 0, is a bar or lever X, which is similar in length to the bar X. In the upper end of bar X, is journaled one end of a shaft X the other end of which shaft is journaled on the upper end of the bar X. Beneath the sprocket chain R, is a toothed wheel 00, which engages with said chain. Upon the same shaft is also a toothed wheel :0 which engages with the sprocket chain R, in like manner. Through the perforated end of the rock shaft P, on one side of frame A, is inserted one end of a screw-threaded rod, X which end is pivotally attached tothe side of the bar X, a short distance from the wheel 41:. Upon the rod X aboveand below the shaft P, are adjusting nuts ,00 which are clamped in the manner hereinafter described. Upon the other side of the frame A, and through the other end of the rock shaft P, is inserted a screw-threaded adjusting rod X which is pivotally attached to the bar X in the same manner and adjusted as described in the rod X The end of shaft 47., which carries the sprocket wheels N, N, extends beyond the outer side of the beam a, and upon the side of the frame A, which is toward the power for operating the machine and upon the said end of shaft n, is rigidly attached a large gear N Near gear N and j ournaled on the beam a, is a shaft n, upon which is the pinion 0'2 which meshes with the gear N on shaft n. On the said shaft 17., is also a grooved sheave N which is placed outside of the pinion n Upon the same side of the frameA, having the sheave N to the side of beam at, between the supports C, C, for said frame on the platform B, is attached in a vertical direction a sheave bracket plate Y, the upper end of which is bent at right angles, and extends over the beam a, toward the other side of frame A. And to the under side of said bent portion is pivotally attached a sheave y. The lower end of the plate Y, is bent at right angles and extends in an outward direction, and .to the outer side of said plate is pivotally attached a sheave y. Upon the other side of the frame A, and upon the upper side of the beam a, is journaled in a horizontal position, a roller 3 In the rear of the machine as far as required, and in line with the sheave y, on the sheave bracket Y, in a transverse direction to the frame of the machine, is secured to the surface of the ground a stationary platform or bed Z, upon which is journaled a sheave 2'. In the other direction a suitable distance in advance of the machine is a stationary platform Z, upon which is mounted a driving shaft 2, which platform and shaft are nearly in line with the movable platform B. Upon the shaft .2, and at one end of said shaft is fixed a drum Z2. In line with the carriage F, and at a distance in advance of the machine equal to that described by the platform Z, and secured to the surface of the ground,is a stationaryplatform Z3, upon which is journaled a sheave 2 Upon the platform Z, upon the side of the shaft .2, in the direction of frame A, of the machine, is journaled a horizontal sheave a Over the drum .2 on the shaft 2, is extended one end of a cable Z which extends to the sheave 1 on the machine and over the sheave, thence to and over the sheave N thence to and over the sheave y, thence over the roller 14 to the stationary platform Z, and over the sheave z' thereon, thence beneath the frame A of the machine to the drum Z2, and the two ends of the cable connected together in the usual manner. To the end of the draft pole B is attached one end of a rope Z9 the other end of which rope extends to and is wound around the shaft 2, on the platform Z. To the carriage F, is at-. tached one end of a rope .2 which extends to and over the sheave on the platform .2 thence to and over the sheave 2 thence to and around the drum .2 on the platform Z.

In the operation of the machine and in the preparation for excavating deep cuts for canals, railroads, and similar purposes, the position of the frame of the machine is placed at right angles, or nearly so, to the line of direction marked out as the course of said roadway. In the position as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the position of the carriage F, is nearly in line horizontally with the movable platform B. Poweris applied in the ordinary manner to the driving shaft 2", on the platform Z, and the endless cable Z communicates motion to the sprocket chains R, R, and to the series'of buckets S, S. In the same movement of the driving shaft 2 the Winding of the rope, b around said shaft, communicates aslower degree of speed to the platform B, than is conveyed to the excavator buckets, and the excess of power applied to operate said buckets is exerting a combined power in moving the machine forward, in which movement the machine moves sidewise and the ex-'- cavating is in a line at right angles to the line of movement. In the same operation of the driving shaft .2, to the rope 2 which communicates a movement to the carriage F, and thus to thelower end of the machine, which is uniform with the power communicated by the same shaft to the platform B so that the proportion of speed attained by the drum 5 is additional power, in excess of the slower movement of the machine, which is utilized in its propulsion. The operator stands upon the platform K, on the carriage F, and in the first forward movements of the machine, the plow L, cuts a furrow in advance of the wheels F, F the soil being further removed at one side by the mold board Z, and the same wheels enter a guide track inthe ground, and in which they are retainedin a direct line, so that an irregular movement of the carriage F, and the lower end of the machine is prevented. In excavating heavy soils and also sod, in the beginning of the excavation, the operator turns the wheel 71, on the screw H, and elevates the end of the frame F, upon which is the plow L.

- This being permitted by the ball bearing D,

on the platform B. In this operation of the frame A, an angle of inclination is given to the frame A, and also in a corresponding degree to the buckets, the extended bottom portion of which enters the surface of the ground at an angle, and plows through the sod,filling the bucket from said extended end. At this juncture it becomes necessary to adjust the position of the moving excavator buckets, so

that a described angle shall be maintained in forming the sides to an excavation, and so giving the slope to said sides, and also thatthe soil taken from the bed of the excavation and side, will be in proportion to the depth of the out. In this operation the adjusting nuts on the rods U, U, (which carry the toothed wheels) are loosened, and removed so far from the rock shaft P as to permit the downward movement of said wheels, upon the chains R, R, and the depression of said chains at said point, and at an angle to the frame A, thus giving the excavator buckets the depth be low the chain, at said point required to fill traction is also applied.

the said buckets. The adjusting nuts upon the said rods are then turned, so as to clamp firmly against the end of the rock shafts, and the position of the rods is secured. The nuts upon the rods V, V, are next loosened, and the rods moved in a downward direction, and the chains R, R, depressed toward the surface of the ground, and to a point in line horizontally with the under side of the wheel a, on the rod U. The rod is then secured in position in the same manner by the nuts, as upon rod U. r The rods W, W, are then moved in a downward direction, which throws the lower ends of the rods V, V, forward in the direction of the supporting or guide sprocket wheels 0, 0, and'the proper angle between said sheaves and the said lower ends of rods V V, is given to the chains R, R, and the width of the bed of the excavation increased and decreased, and the angle of the inclination of the side of the excavation, increased and decreased in a corresponding manner. As the lower end of the frame A, of the machine is depressed by the action of the excavator buckets, the rods V, V, and W, W, are adjusted repeatedly, so as to make the angle on the chains R, R, more acute, and thus make narrow the width cut bythe machine in the bed of the excavation. WVhile these adjustments of the rods V, V, W, W, and U, U, are being made, the nuts ,53 ,311? removed from their securing position on the rods and the said rods moved upward or downward, which action moves the bars X, X, in the same direction and against the under side of the chains R, R, and the proper tension is given to said chains, after which the nuts are operated to secure the rods in position. The buckets S, in passing over the sprocket wheels, are enabled by the slots in the ends of the side bars connected with the sprocket chains to yield, and thus avoid binding upon said wheels.

In the adjustment of the bicycle frame F to change the angle of the buckets, we are enabled to regulate the depth in which the soil is entered by the buckets, by means of the nuts 11,45, on the shank I, of the caster wheel F which nuts are operated in the same manner as described on the rods V, \V. The excavating machine by means of the mechanism described is drawn in the direction of the motive power, as far as the excavation is to be made, the soil being carried upwardly, and when above the sprocket wheels N is inverted and the soil is emptied upon the ground, or into a vehicle beneath.

The mode in which we have mounted the main frame, enables us to make a complete rotation of the excavating machine, horizontally in the arc of a circle. When the full excavation is made in. a direct line as far as required, the machine is reversed in position, and also the motive power, and the other sloping' side of the excavation completed as has been described upon the one side.

Having fully described our invention, what we now claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y 1. In an excavating machine having traveling excavator buckets, the combination with the longitudinal frame supporting said buckets of a transverse movable platform, at one end of said frame, and an intermediate vibratory support for said end upon said platform, and a carriage beam supporting the other end of said frame having traction wheels in line with each other at each end of said beam supports for said beam, connected with said traction wheels, one of said supports being adjustably connected with said beam and a lever connected with the end of said beam,

and fulcrumed upon the other support, substantially as, and for the purpose described.

2. The combination in an excavating machine, with the main frame of a transverse movable platform beneath, and pivotally connected with one end of said frame, and a transverse beam hinged to the other end of said frame, and provided with traction wheels in line with each other, means for propelling said machine laterally, and a guide track excavator on the forward end of said beam for the purpose described.

3. The combination With an excavating machine and with the main frame of said machine having transverse movable supports at each end and sprocket wheels upon said frame and traveling endless chains for the excavators extending over said sprocket wheels of sheaves on said machine operating said sprocket wheels and a sheave anchored to a suitable fixed supportin rear of said machine and a traction engine having a drum actuated. by said engine in front of said machine,

an endless traction cable extending over said drum and said sheave on said stationary support and around the sheave on said machine substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In an excavating machine, the combination with the main frame having a traveling endless chain for the excavators and chain carrying wheels, of guide wheels for said chains, upon said frame of said machine, between said chain carrying wheels, and an adj ustable depressinglever upon said frame, between one of said chain carrying wheels, and said guide wheel, substantially as, and for the purpose described.

5. In an excavating machine, the combination with the main frame having a traveling endless chain for the excavators, of a hinged depressing lever, upon said frame having an anti-friction end bearing upon said endless chain, and an adjusting rod upon said frame connected with said lever, substantially as, and for the purpose described.

6. In an excavating machine, the combination with the main frame having a traveling endless chain for the excavators, of hinged depressing rods upon said frame, bearing upon said endless chains, and adjustable upon said frame, at an angle to each other, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. In an excavating machine, a longitudinal frame, having its lower end inclined downwardly at an angle to its upper end sprocket wheels at each end of said frame, an endless chain for excavators extending over said wheels, and downwardly extended depressing levers on said frame engaging with said endless chain, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. In an excavating machine, the combination with main frame of said machine, having sprocket wheels, and a traveling endless chain upon said wheels, of levers extending at an angle to the frame of said machine in one direction, and engaging with the sprocket chain, and an adjustable tension regulating lever extending from said frame, in an opposite direction, and also engaging with said chain, for the purpose described.

9. The combination with an excavator bucket having upwardly extending sides of detachable side bars, having the ends of said bars bent in an upward direct-ion for the purpose described.

10. The combination with an excavator bucket, having upwardly extending sides, of detachable side bars, having the ends of said bars bent in an upward direction, and provided with slots, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. Thecombinationin excavating machines havinga travelng endless chain, and sprocket wheels on said machine for said chain, of excavator buckets having side bars, and theends of said bars bent in an upward direction,and provided with slots, and securing rods upon said chains, within the slots in said bars, for the purpose described.

JOHN I-IEASTON, V EPHRAIM O. SOOY.

Witnesses to the signature of John Heaston:

W. A. SIMMONS, F. G. SUTTON.

Witnesses tothe signature of Ephraim C. Sooy:

H. R. TOMLINSON, W. (J. STEWART. 

